“ THIRTY DAYS’ WOULD DO YOU BOTH GOOD.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18787, 17 June 1929, Page 9

“ THIRTY DAYS’ WOULD DO YOU BOTH GOOD.”

YOUNG MEN CHARGED WITH CONVERTING CAR

“I am very tempted to give you each 30 days’ imprisonment. It would do I you both good. However, as you are both young I shall fine you £5 with costs, in default 30 days’ imprisonment.” These words were addressed to William Henry Barrett and Leslie Edgar Schultz by Mr E. C. Lewey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Barrett and Schultz were charged with converting to their own use a motor-car valued at £3OO, the property of John Smith. John Smith gave evidence that on Saturday night he left his car in a paddock, first locking it. He was in a friend’s house having tea when he heard the sound of the car’s horn. Mrs I. Gillard said that she heard the sound of the horn while she was having tea. She went out and saw three men walking away from the car. Inspecting the car she found the throttle opened and the spark advanced. She called for her brothers. Mrs Isabella Rhodes also saw three young men. They were near the car. She spoke to them, and they moved away without answering. Sub-Inspector P. J. O’Hara said that three men were noticed near the car, which was parked in a paddock. One had been caught, one had come back and one had not been seen again. Rhodes said that when his brother accosted Barrett the man ran away. Witness gave chase and called to a man named Campbell to join in. Campbell caught Barrett and while witness was holding him a constable came up. Smith’s car had been tampered with as though an attempt had been made to start it. ”1 heard a slight commotion and going over to investigate I found Clarence Rhodes sitting on Barrett’s neck,” said Constable A. Chibnall. Later Schultz came up from somewhere. He said that they had only gone into the car to have a drink.” Barrett said that he had been to a football match and had had a few drinks just before six o’clock. He w T as with Schultz and on their way along Moorhouse Avenue they had gone into the section where the car was to open a bottle of beer. Barrett had got into the car to open the bottle. Schultz had not got into the car. They had not touched the controls or the throttle of the car. They were discovered just as they were leaving the paddock. There was no third man in their party.